NRCTC wins the Research Delivery Category of this year’s Bright Ideas in Health Awards

The National Renal Complement Therapeutic Centre, which is based in Newcastle and run by a collaborative team formed by scientists at Newcastle University and clinicians at the Freeman Hospital’s Renal Unit, scooped first prize for their ground breaking genetic research which resulted in the development of a treatment which prevents the patients with a rare genetic condition from being confined to a lifetime on dialysis.

Atypical Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome (aHUS) is an inherited kidney disease, for which until recently there was no cure. The disease often resulted in end stage kidney failure and patients would face a lifetime of dialysis as a result, with a kidney transplant not being an option since the disease would typically recur in the new kidney.

The newly developed treatment for aHUS has effectively revolutionised patient care and patients have always been a critical part of this research – their time and donation of blood samples allowing the team to successfully define the basis of the disease.

Jalibani Ndebele, National aHUS Service Manager says of the win: “The success of the team can only be attributed to everyone’s tenacious attitude and hard work for more than 20years. For the team this is just the beginning as we are committed to providing the best service to our patients. On behalf of the NRCTC team our gratitude to everyone involved in making the service the best it can be.’